Improvement in fire-escapes



ATENT OFFICEo THOMAS K. RICKETTS, MAYSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IM PROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,936, dated Jnlyl 10, 1877; application filed June 9, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, THOMAS K. RrcKETTs, of Maysville, in the county of Mason and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is` a full, clear, andexact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making apart of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked there- Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my lire-escape as applied. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 is a detail of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a fire -escape `made in sections, whereby persons can be taken from the windows of a .burning building when all usual means of escape have been cut off by the flames and smoke.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrates my invention.

The first or top section of my fire-escape,

consists of abeam, A, provided with a bowed brace, B, on the front, and at or near the top is secured an axle,-G, extending a suitable distance on each side of the beam, and provided with wheels D on its ends.

The second section is composed of a straight beam, G, having bowed top and side braces G4, as shown. On the upper end of this section are two brass bands or metal bands, G2 G2, extending on the top; and at the lower end are two similar bands, G3 G3, extending on the top, and two bands, G4 G4, extending on the bottom. These two sections are united by slipping the lowerend of the beam A into the top bands G3.

The third section consists, simply, of a straight beam, H, with top brace H', and is inserted in the bands G2.

On the under side of the top section is swiveled or otherwise attached a round shaft,

' I, which is used to raise the wheels D up to a rolling distance on the' wallsay to between the first and second story-when it can be put back close to the beam A, and held by a T-pin, a, entering a corresponding slot, as

shown, and the machine rolled up t o any rewhich forms part of the machine, but only required when the sheet is very narrow. This elevator consists of a V-shaped frame, J, with a bar, J 4, hinged to it at the apex, and acenter leg, J2, pivoted in the frame at the top or apex.

To use the elevator the bar J1 is inserted in the metal bands G4, the frame J being thrown toward the building. Then, by means of the swinging leg or shaft J2, the machine can be raised to a sufficient height to insert the third section or additional sections, if required.

At the top of the top section is suspended a pulley, K, over which is passed a rope or chain, b, to one end of which is attached a basket, consisting of a concave bottom, L, made of wire or willow, and connected, by a series of rods, L4, with a top plate, L2, to which the rope or chain b is secured.

The rods Ll are so arranged that one side is open, as shown. From the top plate L2 extends a rod, R, downward a suitable distance, and then bent outward and attached to the side of the bottom L opposite the opening. By taking hold of this center rod the basket swings under the person entering, and when he haslentered, the basket is lowered to the ground.

A small cord, d, is attached to the lower part of the basket, which is to be used to hold the basket the required distance from the house. in descending.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The round shaft I, connected to the top section of the sectional fire-escape herein described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the sectional reescape herein described, the elevator consisting of the frame J, hinged bar J1, and `pivoted shaft J 2, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. L

3. The basket herein described, consisting of the bottom L, frame-work L4, open on one side, the top plate L2, and the bent center rod R, all constructed as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS KEER RICKETTS. Witnesses:

GILBERT S. J um), ARTHUR M. CAMPBELL. 

